Clarinet



Feb. 16, 1932. ER 1,845,880

CLARI 3wventotc Clttozmq Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CLARINET Applieation flled March 14, 1929. Sex-1&1 N0. 348,901.

This invention relates to clarinets and coucerns Inore especially anattachment to the hole cover on the upper joint of the Boehm clarinetwhereby the musician is enabled to play the notes Bb Eb with a singlefinger without the aid' of any other key or finger.

Previously known clarinets require two or sometimes three fingers toproduce these notes Bb Eb which have heretofore been pro- E3 duced byplacing on their respective holes the index and second fingers of theleft band and opening the cross key; by placing the index and secondfingers of the left hand on their respective holes and opening the side35 key; by placing the index finger of the left band and the indexfinger of the right hand upon their respective holes; er by placing theind'ex finger of the left band and the second finger of the right handupon their rem spective holes;

One of the objects of my invention is to simplify and facilitate tl1eproduction of the notes B}; Eb and to eliminate extensive prac- W ticeand diifioult manipulation.

Another object of my invention is to enable a musician to play in flatkeys and in any combination of notes in said flat keys with greatassurance and simple technique and to produce two notes with a singlefingen A further object of n1y invention is the Provision of anattachment yielding the above results to a hitherto unattainable degree.

Otl1er objects and advantages Will either be apparent as tl1edescription proceeds or Will be hereinafter pointed out.

There are several simple but analogous ways of carrying out the objectsof my invention, and reference to a number will be made in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary portion of the upper joint, of a clari'netembodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified form;

Figure 3 is a similar view of another modification;

Figure 4 illustrates a further modificat-ion;

Figure 5 is a modification of a somewhat difi'erent type;

Figure 6 is an additional modified form; and

F igure 7 is an illustration of a passage of music which can be surelyand eflectively played on an instrument embodying my invention.

Similar numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be Seen that my inventionincludes a lever or lever arm o1 suitable attachment which may take avariety of forms and be attached in a mimber of ways und positions. Forexample, the lever may be soldered or screwed to the hole cover of aclarinet or to any portion of which said hole cover is a part 01' it maybe flanged or pivoted to the body of the clarinet 01' to any suitablepart thereof, in either case in such a manner and position that the meredowriward movement of the tip of the index finger of the left band willtouch the lever and thereby close the hole cover, the index fingeritself retaining full and easy control of the superjacent key as Will behereinafter pointed out more specifically.

The numeral 1 designates a portion of the body of a clarinet, preferablythe Boehm clarinet, and the portion illustrated is the so-ealled' upperjoint. The usual rotating rod is designated by numeral 2, and 3 3 arethe standards between which the action parts rotate. The usual holecovers und rings are shown at 4 and 5 respectively and are connected t0rod 2 in the usual manner. Keys 6 and 7 are conventional in a clarinetof this type.

In Figure l, the lever 8 is soldered o1 otherwise secured t0 the holeeover 4 either stem of key 4 in any of the manners 0f lever 8. Whereaslever 8 is oblique and has its end in close prommity to r1ng 5, thesarne resulf is secured loy lever 9 Wh1ch 1s, however,

substantially parallel to the axis of the instrument.

In Figure 8, lever 10 is pivoted flenged, or swiveled, es et 11, to thehody portion 1 of the clerinet. This gives an efi'eot es in Figure 1 ofthe oblique lever but it is secured et the opposit'e end. As is cleerfrom the drewings, the lower end of lever 10 overlies e portion of holecover 4 so thet eotuetion of lever 10 closes seid key4.

In Figure 4, lever 12 is screwed o1 other- Wise secured to the holecover 4 either to the key itself, es shown in full line position, or tothe stem of the key, es shown in dotted line position. This formpermits' desired e djustment, in eddition, es th e exeot position 0f thelever cen be veried such es by tempore'rily loos'ening the screw.

In Figure 5, e somewhet different type of lever is shoWn wherein lever13 is connected to end rotetes With rod 2 et one end end et the otherend'pertielly overlies hole oover 4. Inter1'nediete the ends is e hump14 thus bringing e portion of the lever edjecent ring 5 whereby thepurposes of this invention me v be etteined.

Figure 6 represents e vform of theinventiori wherein the lever 15 is soetteched es to be tel;en with the first finger on the reverse side.

I heve thus shown severel forme of an ettechrnent whereloy the notes BbE1 mey 136 pr'oduced with one finger elone While still reteining controlof the superjecent key 6. In operetion, es shownby the representetion ofe finger (the first or index finger of the left hend), the ring 5 mey be pleyed end whenever desired or required, the lever 8, 9, 10, 12, 13,or 15 mey simulteneously be pleyed loy e slight forwercl end downwerdmoveinent, control of key 6 being nevertheless reteined due to thepropinquity end errengenient of the severel perts.

I find thet meny diflioult pesseges'oen loe pleyed on aninstrumerltprovidedwith my etteohment with greeter eese end bettertechnique end thet 'much tiresorne prectice'oen.

be elimineted. Moreover, some pesseges ere impossible of exeoutionexoept on an instrument with my ettechment 'Ihe pessege of music shownin Fig. 7 is one such which is sure end elfective when pleyed on aninstrument embodying my invention.

'It is cleer thet this invention is not limited to clerinets nor to theupper joint thereof but mey loe efiectively utilized wherever theprin0iples herein enumereted find epplioetion. 1

All theebove is intended to be more illustretive then limitetive so thetI do not limit myself thereto except es oonteined in the i subjoinedclaims.

Heving thus illustreted rny invention end described its us-e whet Icleirn es new end clesire to secure loy Letters Patent of the UnitedStetes is:

l; An ettechment for the hole cover of the upper joint of e clerinetcomprising e lever in operative reletion to seid hole cover soconstruoted end errenged thet elight pressure of the tip of the indexfinger of the musioien upon seid lever Will close seid hole cover,

whereby the musioien is enebled to produce the notes B}; E}; with seidfinger elone.

2. An ettechment for the hole cover of the upper j oint of e cle1inetoo1nprising e lever in operative reletion to seid hole cover sosonstruoted end errehged thet e light downwerd pressure of the tip ofthe index finger which is ple'ying the next edj ecent ring key producesoperetion of seid hole cover, thereby enebling the niusioien to produbethe notes B}; 'Eb with seid index finger elone.

3. An etteehment for.the hole coverof the upper joint of'eclerinetcomprising e lever in operative reletion to seid'hole cover so constructed end errenged that e light downwerd pressnre of the tip 0I" theindex finger of the left hend which is pleying alle .rin ley next eboveproduceg operetion of seid hole cover, thereby eneloling the 1nnsioiento prodnce tlie notes Bb E}; with seid index finger of seid hend elone.

4 An ettechment for the hole cover of the upper j oint of e clerinetconiprising e leverin operative reletion to seid hole cover socomstructed end errenged thet e light downwerd pressure of th e tip ofthe index finger of tl1e left hend which is pleying the ring lzey nexteloove produces operetion of seid: hole cover, thereojff enehling the1nusioien to prodnce the notes B]; E}; with seid index finger of seidl1end elone while still reteining co ntrol of the superjecent key.

5. In e clerinet, e hole eover, e ring key, end meens 011 seidholecover' for pleying seid hole cover end ring key with on e fingen 6. In eelerinet, e hole cover e ring key, end meens for pleying seid holecoverend 1ing key with the index finger of the left hend, seid meensinoluding e lever on seid hole eover end heving e portion edjecent seidring key.

"7. In e clerinet, e hole cover, e ring key, end meens it'or operetingseid hole oover end ii11 key both with the index finger elone of theleit hend, seid meens including e lever on seid hole coaer sooonstruoted end errenged;thet e portionof seid lever is brought intoelose proximity to seid ring key.

8. In e olerinet, e hole Cover, e ring key, encl e lever in operativeessocietion with both seid hole oover end seid ring key so constructedend errenged thet e slight forwerd end downwerd movement of the tip ofthe index finger of the left hend of the musicien enebles ihe letter toproduce the notes B}; Eb

.b v seid index fiiiger elone.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set band this 11 dey of Merch1929.

- AUGUST KNEIZGER,

